EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: In Melbourne, police have charged a 47-year-old man with the murder of Sarah Cafferkey after a major operation to arrest him in the inner city.

The 22-year-old Ms Cafferkey from Bacchus Marsh, west of the city, went missing on the ninth November.

Her body was found by police in a house in the western suburbs on Sunday.

Neighbours who saw the arrest in Hawthorn say it involved dozens of police, as well as special operations officers.

EYEWITNESS: There's a lot of behaviour out the front that indicated something was about to happen. They were on edge. A lot of guys running up and down the street. Guys on motorbikes, guys in cars ready to start taking off.

EMMA ALBERICI: The man accused of the murder faced an out-of-court hearing at the St Kilda Road police station this evening.